About Us - Akron Symphony Orchestra

About Us

About the Akron Symphony Orchestra

The Akron Symphony enriches the lives of audiences, musicians, and our community through exceptional symphonic music, and meaningful, collaborative and educational programming that welcomes, connects, and engages a broad and diverse regional community.

Administrative Staff

Paul Jarrett

Executive Director

Jen Walencik

Director of Marketing

Orzella B. Matherson

Director of Education and Outreach

Sharon Smith

Ticket Services Manager

Courtney Bonifant

Associate Director of Development

Granger Cavanaugh

Operations and Stage Manager

Brenda L. Justice

Administrative Assistant & Coordinator of Choral Programs

Lori Conant

Finance Controller

Cory Smith

Orchestra Librarian

Jerome Miskell

Personnel Manager

Board of Trustees

Executive Officers

Tom Crookes, President
Jill Bacon Madden, Executive Vice President
Jeana Singleton, Secretary
William Nolan, Treasurer
Tom Crookes, Artistic Advisory Chair
Thomas Hite, Development Chair
Dr. Thomas Jefferson, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair
Theresa Petit-Lerner, Education Chair
William Nolan, Finance Chair
Tracy Dowe, Governance Chair
Alex Quay, Marketing Chair
Pat Nilsestuen, Friends of the Akron Symphony Co-Chair
Karen Schreckengost, Friends of the Akron Symphony Co-Chair
Tom Park, Orchestra Committee Chair
Kathy Booth, GAMA Immediate Past President
Christopher Wilkins, Music Director
Paul Jarrett, Executive Director

Dottie Hansen, Member-At-Large
Georgia Nix Miller, Member-At-Large
Renée Pipitone, Member-At-Large

Trustees

Hilary Ayers-Kurtz
Jill Bacon Madden
Sandra Becker-Neidert
Kathryn Booth
Tom Crookes
Johnnette S. Curry
Gary Davis
Tracy Dowe
Lia Evans-Jones
Robert Frutchey
Bethany Gonzalez
Dorothy Hansen
Kevin Heraghty
Thomas Hite
Ryan Iammarino
Dr. Thomas Jefferson
Quinnie Lane
Andrew Leask
Georgia Nix Miller

Chuck Myricks Jr.
Pat Nilsestuen
William Nolan
Bryon Palitto
Theresa Petit-Lerner
Lucia M. Pileggi
Renée Pipitone
Antha Poleondakis
Alex Quay
Julie Robbins
Karen Schreckengost
Jeana M. Singleton
Eda Valentin
Julie Weagraff
Stephanie York

Trustee Emeriti

Norman P. Auburn, Ph.D. *
Robert S. Crawford *
J. Ralph Gillman *
Sue Jeppesen Gillman
Mabel Lamborn Graham *
Jane Kaufman *
Edward J. Metzger
Bruce F. Rothmann, M.D. *

Trustee of Note

Olive Cairns *
William & Margaret Denton *
Dorothy Gaylord *
Ida Grotz *
Joseph S. Lichty, M.D. *
Gerald McFadden*
Lola M. Rothmann*
Dorothy Seeger *
Irene Shadley *
Charles K. Sorkin *
Mary Louise Stewart *
Helen M. Vawter

GAMA Foundation Board of Trustees

Tom Clark, Chair
Bruce Fahey
Richard Harris
Mike Pasternak
Charlie Peter
Todd Rosenberg
Dave Scarponi
Donna Valentine

Board Alumni Council

Dr. Linda B. Angotti
Mark S. Auburn
Sandy Becker-Neidert
Dr. Todd Beyer
Susan Burnoski, CPA
Lisa Chapman-Smith
Thomas J. Clark, CFP
Robert L. Culp Jr.
R. Fred Damerow
Richard Dee
William D. Dowling
Bruce Fahey
Jerilynn Ferguson
Sandra Fishel

Robert Frutchey
Dr. William K. Guegold 
DuWayne Hansen
Richard H. Harris
Dr. Sandra Hazra, M.D.
Robert L. Hunt Sr.
Jerry Irby
Mary Ann Jackson
Melissa Johnson
Jessica Korkosz Korzhiletskiy
Kathleen Leigh Lewarchick
Dave Leiberth
Jan E. Litz, CMA
Jason Lorenzon
Diana D. Maurer
William N. Melver
Melodie Morgon-Minott
Dave Nelson

Jo Ann Oelschlager
Bryon Palitto
Michael J. Pasternak
Charles A. Peter, M.D.
Lucia M. Pileggi
Guy Pipitone
Ernest E. Pouttu
Terri L. Nass Reeder
Kurt Reed
Charles J. Reitz III
Todd J. Roenburg
George H. Rosin
Dr. Walter Ruf
David Scarponi
Sally Schneider
David M. Sinar
André Thornton Jr.
Dr. Ann Usher
Donna Valentine
Theresse Wade
Donna Zabel
James E. Zwisler

+ chorus co-representative
++ guild representative
+++orchestra representative
*deceased